Roseville ready to shift into idle after being handled by Pleasant Grove

Anne Stokes/Roseville Press TribuneGino Espinosa (13) and Roseville spent much of Friday night's game chasing Colin Serne (20) and other Pleasant Grove running backs. The visiting Eagles rushed for 430 yards in their 48-14 victory over the host Tigers at Hanson Field.

As playing in week zero becomes more and more popular in high school football, teams are choosing their idle weeks differently.

Roseville will take its bye now, splitting its break between five rugged nonleague games and the start of Sierra Foothill League play.

Head coach Larry Cunha has watched his young Tigers improve each week, but their offensive and defensive lines were overpowered by Pleasant Grove in a 48-14 loss Friday night at Hanson Field.

“Our kids fought, but we have to be a little better,” Cunha said after watching the Eagles average 11.9 yards per carry in piling up all 430 yards on the ground.

Pleasant Grove (3-2) had 11 runs of at least 10 yards.

Offensively, Roseville (1-4) was held to 83 yards rushing through three quarters. Junior Matt Razzano ran for 152 yards in 21 carries, but 102 came in the fourth period with the Eagles in control and their reserves on the field.

Sophomore Bryce Crouch ran for 35 of his 54 yards in the final quarter and scored on a five-yard run. Junior Isaac Carrel plowed in from one yard out with 1:42 remaining for the Tigers’ other touchdown, which was set up by a 57-yard sprint by Razzano.

“Physically, we lost the battle up front,” Cunha said, adding that while Pleasant Grove isn’t as big as it was last season, “They’re physical and athletic.”

Also, junior quarterback Kyle Downie was intercepted twice, and both led to Pleasant Grove touchdowns.

The Tigers sat senior Austin Ash for the most part to help him mend, and Cunha said a couple other players were “dinged up” Friday night.

“Physically, our bye comes at the right time,” he said, summing up the first half of the season by saying, “To say I’m happy would be an overstatement, but the kids are working hard and we’ve improved every week.”

JV game

Roseville 34, Pleasant Grove 28 — Amran Visla’s third touchdown catch capped a big evening and gave the Tigers a big victory over the Eagles.

Roseville (4-1) shut out Pleasant Grove in the second half after trailing 28-14 at halftime. Shea O’Harra led the charge that stuffed Pleasant Grove’s inside running game.

Michael Dobler completed nine passes for 207 yards, eight of which went to Visla for 200 yards and three touchdowns.

Jake Vaughn returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and scored the Tigers’ other touchdown on a run.